Belgium
Back
top pageHappy
new year 2009 from the team of Army Recognition magazine and web site.

We
would like to take this opportunity to thank you for
the faithful cooperation during 2008. Our very best
wishes and Happy New Year 2009 to you and your family.
Alain Servaes and the Army Recognition team are pleased
to extend their Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes
to their subscribers, readers and advertisers around
the world, and thank them for their continued support.
31
December 2008

Israel
Back
top pageTzahal
- Israel Army ready with its ground forces to make a land attack against
the Hamas.

Israeli
soldiers stand atop an armoured personnel carrier just
outside the northern Gaza Strip December 30, 2008. Israel
on Tuesday rejected any truce with Hamas Islamists in
the Gaza Strip before cross-border rocket fire ceased
and said its air strikes, the fiercest in decades, heralded
"long weeks of military action". Israeli soldiers
stand atop a tank outside the central Gaza Strip December
30, 2008. Israel hit the Gaza Strip with more air strikes
on Tuesday and said its military action could last weeks,
while rockets fired by Islamist Hamas struck deep inside
the Jewish state.31 December 2008

Russia
Back
top pageContract
of $200 millions for Russian Defence companies for the delivery of the
new air defence missile system Pechora-2M for several countries in the
world.

Many
companies of Russia has received a contract around $200
millions for the delivery of the new ground-to-air anti-aircraft
missile system Pechora-2M in Egypt, Syria, Libya, Myanmar,
Vietnam, Venezuela and Turkmenistan, information write
last week to the Russian newspaper Vedomosti. Two hundred
Pechora-2M were ordered by Egypt, and will be delivery
during the next three years, said a producing person
in charge of a company of the spare parts for these
systems. Although all the contracts were concluded by
Rosoboronexport (The Russian Export Weapons Agency)
with individual customers these last months. For the
production point of view, they constitute only one contract
concluded between a public intermediary and industry,
the interlocutor specifies. After the modernization
of S-125 conceived in 1960, this system became mobile,
which makes it possible to use it to counter the first
air attack of the adversary: “It results from
it a system simple, but effective, like rifle Kalachnikov
machine gunner: after having drawn, one can throw it”.27 December 2008

Russia's
deputy foreign minister on Thursday denied claims that
Russia had supplied S-300 air defense systems to Iran.
Iran's official news agency IRNA, quoting a senior Iranian
MP, reported on Sunday that Russia had started supplying
components for S-300 surface-to-air missile systems.
The United States, also citing intelligence reports,
demanded an explanation from Russia. "I am very
surprised by the fuss this story has caused recently.
I think this is due to a lack of interesting international
news in the run-up to the holidays that many of our
Western neighbors are celebrating. This causes an influx
of interest in information, which has nothing to do
with anything that is going on or will happen,"
Sergei Ryabkov told a news conference in Moscow. He
said military and technical cooperation that Russia
is developing with Iran was transparent, and complied
fully with international and Russian laws. Esmaeil Kosari,
deputy chairman of the parliamentary commission on national
security and foreign policy told IRNA last week that
Iran and Russia had held negotiations for several years
on the purchase of S-300 systems and had finalized the
deal. He said the Islamic Republic would deploy the
surface-to-air missile systems to strengthen national
defense on border areas.25
December 2008

Russia
Back
top pageTopol-M
ICBMs enter service with new missile regiment in Russia.

A
complex of Topol-M (SS-27 Stalin) ICBMs entered service
on Wednesday with another missile regiment in central
Russia, a Strategic Missile Forces spokesman said. The
SMF spokesman said the sophisticated Topol-M road-mobile
missile system, which "has no match in the world,"
had been "put on combat duty" at the Teikovo
missile unit in the Ivanovo region. The first two missile
battalions were armed with six Topol-M systems at the
54th Strategic Missile Division near the town of Teikovo,
about 150 miles (240 km) northeast of Moscow. Topol-M
missiles are the mainstay of the ground-based component
of Russia's nuclear triad. As of 2008, the SMF operated
48 silo-based and six road-mobile Topol-M missile systems.
The missile, with a range of about 7,000 miles (11,000
km), is reportedly impervious to any current or future
U.S. missile defenses. It is also shielded against radiation,
electromagnetic attack, and nuclear blast, and is designed
to survive an impact from any known weaponized laser
system. 24
December 2008

United
States Back
top pageOshkosh
being awarded a $176,328,868 fixed price delivery order.

Oshkosh
Corporation, Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded a $176,328,868
fixed price delivery order #0025 under a previously
awarded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract
(M67854-06-D-5028). This delivery order is exercise
priced options for the purchase of 400 each Logistic
Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) production cargo vehicle,
17 each LVSR Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) 5TH
Wheel Vehicles, 11 each LVSR LRIP Wrecker Vehicles,
275 production weapons mount kits, 110 engine arctic
kits, and 171 add-on armor kits. Work will be performed
in Oshkosh, Wis., and work for this delivery order is
expected to be completed by May 31, 2010. Contract funds
will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
23
December 2008

France
Back
top pageThe DGA
French procurement agency had placed an order with Nexter for 116 wheeled
armoured VBCI.

The
DGA French procurement agency had placed an order with
Nexter the 05 December 2008, for the delivery of 116
wheeled armoured vehicle VBCI. The number of vehicles
ordered at this time is 298 VBCI. The first order of
41 vehicles was delivery of the initial schedule. With
the VBCI, the French Army is optimally equipped for
the full spectrum of future missions, ranging from humanitarian
aid missions to participation in a large-scale conflict.
The VBCI off-road wheeled 8x8 armored vehicle, is the
successor of the old tracked armored vehicle AMX-10P,
with more armor and armament. 18
December 2008

France
Back
top pageUpgrade
of 108 AMX 10P Armored Vehicles by Nexter is Complete.

Nexter
has just finished upgrading 108 AMX 10P tracked armored
personnel carriers ahead of the initial schedule. This
upgrade was carried out in six French Army infantry
regiments. The last armored vehicle was returned to
the 92nd Clermont-Ferrand Infantry Regiment on October
23, 2008. As a reminder, the DGA French procurement
agency had placed an order with Nexter in September
2005, notably concerning the upgrade of these 108 armored
vehicles and the delivery of 258 gearboxes. This operation
increased the vehicle's protection with the installation
of add-on armor. Its mobility was increased by fitting
new suspension systems and a strengthened gearbox.18
December 2008

Finland
Back
top pageSaab
has received an order from the Finnish Defence Forces for an additional
number of the new anti-tank weapon NLAW.

Saab
has received an order from the Finnish Defence Forces
for an additional number of the new anti-tank weapon
NLAW. The order is valued to approximately 200 MSEK.
Finland ordered the anti-tank weapon system NLAW last
year and became the first export customer for the short
range anti-tank weapon. They have now ordered an additional
number of the system which will be delivered to Finland
during 2009. NLAW, Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon
is originally developed for Sweden and Great Britain.
The system meets the requirements for a modern anti-tank
weapon system in international operations within an
urban environment. It´s developed by Saab Bofors
Dynamics, Sweden, and final assembly is carried out
by Thales Air Defence Ltd. in Northern Ireland. 17
December 2008

Switzerland
Back
top pageKONGSBERG
has been awarded a MNOK 350 order by the Swiss Army.

KONGSBERG
has been awarded a MNOK 350 order by the Swiss Army
for the delivery of Protector weapon control systems,
including logistics for the vehicle programs GMTF and
ABC. Deliveries will commence in autumn 2009. PROTECTOR
- Remote Weapon Station(RWS) is a remotely controlled
weapon station for light and medium calibre weapons
and can be installed on any type of vehicle. PROTECTOR
has been in full scale production since December 2001.
Since then more than 3000 systems have been delivered
to several customers around the world. The Protector
weapon control system protects military troops by allowing
the vehicle's weapons to be operated from a protected
position inside the vehicle. 17
December 2008

Pakistan
Back
top pageChina,
Pakistan vow to advance bilateral relations.

China
would work with Pakistan to push forward the bilateral
strategic and cooperative partnership, said Vice President
Xi Jinping here on Tuesday. Hailed the relations between
China and Pakistan, Xi said the two nations enjoyed
profound friendship, which had stood the test of international
changes. China and Pakistan set up diplomatic ties 57
years ago. Xi said the two countries witnessed increasing
mutual trust in politics and expanded cooperation in
various areas. China valued the traditional friendship
with Pakistan, and was ready to advance relations with
the south Asia country, he noted. Majid said his country
attached great importance to the relations with China,
and would join in China to promote bilateral exchanges
and cooperation. 16
December 2008

According
to the contract signed recently with NATO, Renault Trucks
Defense is delivering the Sherpa 3 tactical vehicles
as well as the heavy logistic trucks: Kerax 4x4, kerax
6x6 and 8x8 manufactured at Bourg-en-Bresse factory.
Taking into account the operational urgency, those vehicles
will be sent to the International Security Assistance
Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
At the same time, Renault Trucks Defense awarded a contract
for the delivery of armoured cabin for the tanker truck
Kerax use by the French Army. This delivery order will
procure 20 armoured cabin Kerax, with an option for
10 more This armoured was presented for the first time
during the Eurosatory 2008 Defence Exhibition at Paris
in June 2008. 15
December 2008

Austria
Back
top pageSchiebel
CAMCOPTER® S-100 successfully participates in army field exercise
with the Austrian Army.

At
the request of the Austrian Ministry of Defense and
in cooperation with the Land Forces School, the CAMCOPTER®
S-100 VTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System (UAS) was
tested for four days in early December 2008 in the military
training area at Allentsteig north of Vienna. General
routine test flights were conducted on the system throughout
its flight envelope and its tactical operational use
was practiced in a field exercise in support of the
army. In addition, high-speed testing and altitude flights
up to 6.000m (18,000ft) were successfully performed
in the available airspace.
The system stands out for its ease of use, flexibility
and stability of operation. The Army test team, as well
as the attending international guests were convinced
of these features that are essential requirements for
the modern warfighter and of special importance in support
of foreign expeditionary assignments.
With its maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 200 kg, a
typical payload of 50 kg and its range of up to 180
km, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 delivers persistence, with
an endurance of up to six hours. Whether for force protection,
projection or troop surveillance and reconnaissance
missions, the proven CAMCOPTER® S-100 is best suited
for a wide variety of tasks.15
December 2008

Netherlands
Back
top pageOfficial
delivery of the first five tracked armoured fighting vehicle CV90 to
the Dutch Army.

After
the successful completion of the trials phase, the Director
of Defence Material Organisation (DMO), Lex Hendrichs,
this morning handed over the first five vehicles to
the deputy commander of the Land Forces, Major General
Marcel van den Broek. The Ministry of Defence has chosen
to procure a combination of modern vehicles to ensure
that the Royal Netherlands Army is optimally equipped
for the full spectrum of future missions, ranging from
humanitarian aid missions to participation in a large-scale
conflict. Thanks to its heavy weapons and armor, the
CV90 can operate in the heaviest operational conditions.
The Ministry of Defence will procure 192 CV90s, including
those intended for training. Earlier versions of CV90
are already in operation with the armed forces of Sweden,
Norway, Finland, and Switzerland. 15
December 2008

Iraq
Back
top pageIraq
wants to buy military equipment including Abrams tanks, Stryker wheeled
armoured vehicles.

The
U.S. wants to support the reconstruction of the Iraqi
Armed Forces with billions-worth weapon supplies. According
to U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), Iraq wants to buy
military equipment including Abrams tanks, Stryker wheeled
vehicles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft worth
over $6 billion (€4.5 billion).12
December 2008

United
States Back
top pageNavistar
Defence is being awarded a contract for the delivery of 400 Category
I MRAP MaxxPro Dash.

Navistar
Defense LLC, Warrenville, Ill., is being awarded a $362,283,452
firm fixed priced delivery order #0010 under previously
awarded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract
(M67854-07-D-5032) for the procurement of Category I
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Low Rate Initial
Production (LRIP) vehicles with Engineering Change Proposal
(ECP) upgrades for enhanced maneuverability with greater
armor protection. This delivery order will procure 400
Category I MRAP MaxxPro DASH vehicles to provide protection
for U.S. Military personnel currently in theater. Work
will be performed in WestPoint, Miss., and work is expected
to be completed by the end of May 2009. Contract funds
will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
This contract was competitively procured. 11
December 2008

Venezuela
Back
top pageVenezuela
army takes part in a mock invasion exercise during Aviation Day.

Venezuela
army takes part in a mock invasion exercise during a
ceremony to mark the nation's Aviation Day in the central
state of Guarico, 200 miles (322 km) south of Caracas
December 10, 2008. 10
December 2008

Afghanistan
Back
top pageAlliant
Techsystems received a contract for non standard ammunition for the
Afghanistan national Army and Afghanistan National Police.

Top
American ammunition supplier Alliant Techsystems, Inc
in Independence, MO recently received an $86.7 million
firm-fixed-price contract for 94.6 million rounds of
various non standard ammunition for the Afghanistan
national Army and Afghanistan National Police. By “nonstandard,”
the military means non-NATO standard, such as the 7.62×54
caliber used by rifles like the AK-47 and its copies
around the world. Work will be performed in Independence,
MO with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. Bids
solicited were via the Web and 14 bids were received
by Army Research Sustainment Command at Rock Island,
IL (W52P1J-09-C-0007).10
December 2008

Mobility
and firing tests of the 105mm HITFACT turret mounted
on the 8X8 Pandur II armoured vehicle, manufactured
by the Austrian company Steyr and already used by the
Portuguese army in a troop transport version. This test
was make to a few kilometres from Tomar is Poligono
di Santa Margarida, Italy. Excellent results were achieved
in all conditions, from stationary vehicle to stationary
target to the more difficult situation of a moving vehicle
shooting at a moving target. Spectacular scenes were
also provided by the mobility demonstration, which included
clearing a mud-filled trench and the steep slope of
a dried-up gravelly riverbed, finished off with its
return amidst sprays of muddy water. The turret represents
a brand new concept in some principal subsystems (electrical
control systems, new, special barrel steel, the latest
generation of fire control systems and recoil brakes)
and is the fruit of close on 50 years experience in
the area of 105mm guns and follows the production of
approximately 500 Centauro turrets. There to witness
the tests was the National Armaments Director, a number
of representatives from the Portuguese army and Defence
Ministry, the Italian Military Attaché and representatives
from the Italian Defence Ministry, not to mention an
official American observer. The final day was dedicated
to the press and local television channels, which were
eager to find out all the technical details and the
system’s special features.08
December 2008

Pakistan
Back
top pageMilitants
blasted two transport terminals in Pakistan use for the troops in Afghanistan.

Militants
blasted their way into two transport terminals in the
city of Peshawar, Pakistan on Sunday and torched more
than 160 vehicles destined for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan,
in the biggest assault yet on a vital military supply
line. 07
December 2008

Chile
Back
top pageChilean
Marines make anti-terrorist military exercise during the Exponaval 2008,
6th International Maritime Exhibition and Conference for Latin America.

Anti-terrorist
Special Forces, of the Chilean marines, train during
a military exercise of the maritime interdiction operation
in Valparaiso, about 75 miles (120 km) northwest of
Santiago December 4, 2008. Armed forces of Latin America
and the world are participating in the 6th International
Maritime Exhibition and Conference for Latin America,
under the name Exponaval 2008. 04 December 2008

Russia
Back
top pageRussia
to deploy alpine units at its military bases abroad.

Russia's
Defense Ministry plans to deploy special mountain units
at military bases in S. Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia and
Tajikistan, as well as in the Urals and Far East, a
ministry official said on Thursday. "All military
contingents deployed in mountainous regions will have
battalion-level units specially trained for mountain
warfare," said Col. Vladimir Chabanov, deputy head
of the Ground Forces combat training department at the
Russian Defense Ministry. Russia has already deployed
two mountain brigades in the North Caucasus republics
of Daghestan and Karachayevo-Circassia. They are manned
by contract soldiers and total about 4,500 personnel.
Chabanov said the newly formed units would be equipped
with special weaponry and equipment developed for combat
at high altitudes in mountainous areas, including professional
mountain-climbing equipment. Russia currently deploys
a military base in Gyumri, Armenia and a military base
near the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, which hosts the 5,000-strong
201st Motorized Rifle Division. Moscow is also planning
to open one base in Gudauta, in the west of Abkhazia,
and another in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia,
following a five-day war with Georgia over South Ossetia
in August. 04
December 2008

China
Back
top pageChina,
India to hold joint anti-terror military training.

The
Chinese and Indian military forces will hold a joint
anti-terror military training from Dec. 6 to 14 in India,
the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Thursday. The two
armies will each dispatch an infantry company to take
part in the joint training, code-named "Hand in
Hand 2008", in south India's Belgaum District,
said the ministry spokesman Huang Xueping. The group
of 137 troops from the Chinese side arrived at the training
camp in Belgaum on Thursday after eight hours' flight
by two military transport planes, and a brief welcoming
ceremony was held at the airport by the Indian side.The
joint training is being carried out according to the
Memorandum of Understanding for Exchanges and Cooperation
in the Field of Defense signed in 2006 and is listed
in the annual exchange plans for 2008 after discussion
of the two sides, Huang said. The nine-day joint anti-terror
military training will include display of weapons and
equipment, communication of tactics, joint training
and a comprehensive drill. The two countries held their
first joint anti-terrorism military training in Kunming,
southwest China's Yunnan Province last year.04 December 2008

United
Kingdom Back
top pageBritish
Troops Could Get Firepower Boost from New Warrior Turret and Gun.

British
troops could get a major increase in firepower thanks
to a revolutionary gun system and advanced turret destined
for their armoured fighting vehicles. Senior officials
from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and its French
equivalent, the DGA, saw the system in action on a Warrior
vehicle at the Kirkcudbright range in Scotland. The
BAE Systems MTIP2 turret and its Cased Telescoped Armament
System (CTAS) is already cleared to fire from a moving
vehicle at a moving target. MTIP2 is a BAE Systems-funded
project to de-risk both the Warrior Fightability and
Lethality Improvement Programme (WFLIP) and the FRES
Scout vehicle. The company’s offerings into the
competitions for the two programmes use different turrets
with a common architecture and many common systems,
including CTAS, to reduce the training and logistics
burden. During the trials, a number of users commented
that the turret exhibited a step change in stabilisation
performance from the Challenger 2 tank, widely regarded
as the benchmark. Over the course of three trials open
days, visitors saw the system perform static and moving
firings against static and moving targets, using both
training and armour-piercing rounds. 90 rounds were
fired from the 40mm gun and 600 rounds from the chain
gun, achieving high levels of accuracy and reliability.
03
December 2008

Korea
Back
top pageKorea-Russia,
the two countries will examine the various aspects of the military cooperation
and bilateral technique.

During
the current visit of a Korean military delegation in
Russia, the chiefs of general staffs of the two countries
will examine the various aspects of the military cooperation
and bilateral technique, entrusted to Wednesday to RIA
Novosti a spokesman of the Russian ministry of Defense.
At the time of her stay in Russia, which will last until
December 5th, the delegation will visit troops of the
military regions of Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. “The
president of the unified Committee of the chiefs of
staffs of the Korean armed forces, the general Kim Dae-jong,
will meet his Russian counterpart, the general Nikolaï
Makarov, chief of general staff and first vice-minister
of Defense, to discuss the military cooperation and
technique between the two countries”, announced
the interlocutor of the agency.03
December 2008

India
Back
top pageIndo-Russian
Defence Cooperation Gets Further Boost.

India
and Russia have taken a significant step to boost Defence
Cooperation at their first meeting of the India-Russia
High Level Monitoring Committee (HLMC). The two-day
meeting, co-chaired by the Defence Secretary Shri Vijay
Singh and Mr Mikhail Dmitriev, Director, FSMTC from
the Russian side, ended here today. Both sides discussed
issues related to ongoing projects such as Fifth Generation
Fighter Aircraft, Multi-role Transport Aircraft, T-90
tanks, AWACS, SU-30MKI upgrade, aircraft carrier Admiral
Gorshkov and Medium Lift Helicopters. Cooperation between
the defence forces of the two countries was also discussed.03
December 2008

Germany
Back
top pageAccording
to the Budget Act the German defence budget will continuously raise
over the next years.

With
deployment abroad and the continuous fight against terrorism,
the German Bundeswehr faces great challenges. Nowadays
the Bundeswehr is deployed in several missions worldwide
to deal with international crises and conflicts such
as in the Balkans and Afghanistan. Therefore, on 30
November 2008, the members of the German Bundestag adopted
the 2009 Defence Budget Act with a total amount of €31.2
billion ($39.5 billion) for this year. Compared to 2008,
the 2009 defence budget will increase by nearly 6 per
cent or €1.75billion ($2.2 billion). According
to the Budget Act the German defence budget will continuously
raise over the next years. In
the 2009 Defence Budget Act the investment quota go
up 1.3 percent to 24 percent of the overall budget while
operating costs decline. 01 December 2008

Ukraine
Back
top pageWithin
One Year the Ukrainian Army Has Received 56 Bulat Main Battle Tanks.

During
the last year the military units of the Ukrainian Armed
Forces received from Kharkiv 56 Bulat main battle tanks
(MBT), which are an upgraded version of the T-64B battle
tank. This was announced by Alexey Podgorniy, the acting
director general of the Kharkiv-based State Enterprise
Malyshev Plant. The next year is to see delivery of
another 30 upgraded tanks. If provided with relevant
financial support, the Malyshev Plant will be able to
establish in the near future the facilities for production
of the first ten Oplot MBTs. The Oplot MBT, which is
to enter service with the separate tank brigade of the
6th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Army, is the first national
tank of Ukraine. esides, it is planned to supply three
Atlet armoured repair and recovery vehicles and ten
BTR-4 armoured personnel carriers. These armoured vehicles,
according to the General Designer of Kharkiv Morozov
Machine Building Design Bureau Lt Gen Mikhailo Borysiuk,
are in many aspects are on a par with the most advanced
foreign vehicles.01 December 2008

Nigeria
Back
top pageNigeria
military has deployed more troops and amoured in the country.

The
Nigeria military has deployed more troops and amoured
vehicles to contain the ongoing civil unrest in Jos
after two days of post-election violence between Christians
and Muslims that left hundreds dead. The clashes were
triggered by a rumour on November 28, 2008 that the
majority-Muslim All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) had
lost in a local election to the mainly Christian Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), according to a police spokesman.
01 December 2008

Colombia
Back
top pageChina,
Columbia agree to cement military exchanges.

Chinese
Defense Minister Liang Guanglie meet with visiting Commander-in-chief
of Columbia's Armed Forces Freddy Padilla de Leon here
on Wednesday, agreeing to further boost bilateral military
exchanges. Liang, also a Chinese state councilor, hailed
the progress of bilateral military cooperation over
the years. Regarding military relations as an important
part of overall bilateral ties, he said the Chinese
armed forces attached great importance to developing
friendly relations with Columbia, and would like to
join hands with the country to further deepen military
exchanges and cooperation. In response, Padilla said
the Columbian armed forces are confident about future
cooperation with China, calling on both sides to explore
new cooperation areas and projects. Besides Beijing,
Padilla will also visit China's historic city Xi'an
and economic hub Shanghai.01 December 2008

Pakistan
Back
top pageMilitary
vehicles hit by rocket-propelled grenades fired by militants.

Pakistani
security officials stand near burnt military vehicles
parked near trucks that were hit by rocket-propelled
grenades fired by militants, on the outskirts of Peshawar
December 1, 2008. Two drivers of trucks transporting
supplies to Western forces in Afghanistan were killed
on Monday in a grenade and gun attack near Peshawar,
a transport company official said. 01 December 2008

Brazil
wishes to acquire Russian weaponry, in particular aircraft
and armored vehicle, entrusted to RIA Novosti Mikhaïl
Dmitriev, director of the Russian Federal service for
the military cooperation and technique (FSVTS). According
to Mr. Dmitriev, Brazil “is interested by the
helicopters and mobile systems of DCA”. “We
also study the possibilities of delivery of armored
vehicles and planes of drive. According to any probability,
it will be of Yak-130”, announced the director
of the FSVTS, adding that it was premature of speaking
about the concrete contracts and their amounts. “An
important preliminary work is to be carried out”,
it concluded. Brazil has ordered 12 Mil Mi-35M attack
helicopters from Russia, which has already supplied
similar gunships to Venezuela.01 December 2008

Sweden
Back
top pageSwedish
Armed Forces should take new measures including the deployment of Combat
Vehicle 90 to Afghanistan.

Swedish
troops have on two occasions been subjected to rocket-propelled
grenade (RPG) attacks in Afghanistan. This is made clear
in Army Inspector Berndt Grundevik’s analysis
of the events of 7 and 8 November when Swedish soldiers
found themselves under fire in northern Afghanistan.
Major General Grundevik is now recommending that the
Swedish Armed Forces should take new measures including
the deployment of Combat Vehicle 90 (CV 90) to Afghanistan.01 December 2008